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CD grade wood flooring should be purchased against agreed board appearance requirements, not the grade letters alone. Before ordering, review full-board samples and confirm how knots, cracks, repairs, sapwood, and color variation will be assessed. Record the accepted range in writing and connect it to the approved samples.
For wholesalers and importers, this creates a clearer reference for purchasing, inspection, and replenishment. The purpose is not to invent a universal CD standard. It is to establish what the buyer and supplier have agreed for the particular product and order.
1. Review Full Boards Before Approving CD Grade Wood Flooring
A close-up can show an individual feature without communicating the appearance of the complete board. Ask to review full-board samples, supported by an arrangement of several boards where practical.
Use two levels of review. First, examine individual features that require clarification. Then step back and assess how those features appear across the board and the sample arrangement.
Ask whether the samples are intended to represent the proposed selection or illustrate only one part of it. A single attractive board should not automatically become the reference for the whole order.
For SONGLINFLOOR’s listed oak range, the board format is 1900 × 190 mm, with either 14/3 mm or 15/4 mm thickness. Confirm the size and scope of the sample being developed, particularly if a smaller piece is supplied initially.
2. Discuss Knots and Cracks as Separate Acceptance Items
Avoid instructions such as “normal CD knots” without further explanation. Ask the supplier to identify the knot appearances included in the proposed selection and show examples for discussion.
If knot size, frequency, location, or appearance matters to your purchasing brief, raise those questions explicitly. Do not assign numerical limits unless both parties have reviewed and accepted them.
Discuss cracks separately from knots. Ask what appearances are permitted, what treatment is proposed, and which examples would be outside the accepted selection. Do not assume that a repaired feature is automatically accepted simply because it has been filled.
Use photographs of the actual sample to mark questions, then resolve them in the written criteria. Where a feature remains unclear, request an additional reference before approving the order.
3. Confirm Repairs and Sapwood Without Assuming a Standard
For repairs, ask what the proposed finished appearance includes. Review the visible color, outline, and presentation of any repair shown in the sample. Confirm whether the example is representative of what may be supplied.
An instruction such as “repairs allowed” leaves important questions unanswered. Identify which repair appearances are acceptable and which require further discussion. Do not infer the repair material, process, or technical performance from a photograph.
Sapwood also needs its own acceptance discussion. Ask the supplier to identify any sapwood shown in the proposed sample and clarify whether it falls within the agreed selection.
If your market has particular requirements concerning sapwood visibility or placement, submit those requirements for agreement. Do not present an unconfirmed area percentage or placement rule as an established CD grade specification.
These are appearance checks, not evidence of performance or suitability for a particular application.
4. Agree a Color Range Across Multiple Boards
Approve the intended color using physical samples from the correct CD selection. The listed colors are Pearl Beige, Warm Wheat, Linen Beige, Stone Greige, and Mist Grey.
A color name identifies the selection but does not define the complete range of appearance. Review several boards together and discuss what differences are acceptable within that selection. Keep color approval separate from the acceptance of knots, cracks, repairs, and sapwood.
Also confirm the finish. UV Oiled and UV Lacquered are available options, with UV lacquer the primary direction for the U.S. market. The finish must be recorded for the order; a photograph or color name does not establish it.
For repeat purchases, refer to the previous order and approved samples. State whether the same reference should continue or whether a revised selection is requested. Do not convert sample approval into a promise of completely identical boards or batches.
5. Turn Sample Comments into a Written Order Reference
Create one approval record that connects the CD selection, sample references, and written criteria. A practical format separates accepted items from unresolved questions.
| Review Item | Questions to Resolve | Approval Record |
|---|---|---|
| Full-board appearance | Do the samples represent the intended selection? | Identified boards and overall sample photographs |
| Knots | Which appearances are included or excluded? | Agreed descriptions and marked examples |
| Cracks | What is permitted, and what treatment is proposed? | Written conditions and corresponding references |
| Repairs | Which finished appearances are acceptable? | Approved examples and any exclusions |
| Sapwood | Is it permitted, and what appearance is agreed? | Written agreement supported by samples |
| Color variation | What range is accepted across several boards? | Approved color references and sample arrangement |
| Finish | UV Oiled or UV Lacquered? | Selected finish in the order specification |
| Revisions | Which sample version is current? | Final reference and approval date |
Keep the product configuration alongside this record. The thickness choices are 14 mm total with a 3 mm oak face, or 15 mm total with a 4 mm face. Core options include three-layer poplar, multilayer poplar, multilayer eucalyptus, and multilayer all-birch. Joint options are tongue-and-groove or locking, confirmed by order.
These are alternatives. Do not assume all configurations are interchangeable or automatically available together.
6. Use the Same Reference for Inspection and Replenishment
When discussing inspection, identify the written criteria and approved samples that should be used. Agree how questions or differences will be documented rather than introducing a new interpretation of CD after production.
SONGLINFLOOR supports inspection reports and factory audit arrangements, with weekly order follow-up. Confirm the scope needed for the specific purchase; these services do not establish unconfirmed certification or factory ownership.
Sample development takes approximately two weeks, with specifications and charges confirmed separately. Production lead time starts from 45 days after receipt of deposit, subject to order confirmation. This is not an arrival date.
For replenishment, provide the earlier order reference and current sample approval. Confirm any changes before the new order so the purchasing and inspection teams work from the same agreed selection.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Does CD grade have one universal knot allowance?
No universal allowance should be assumed. Confirm the supplier’s proposed criteria and agree the requirements for the specific order.
2. Can I approve CD flooring from a close-up photograph?
A close-up is useful for a particular feature, but it does not show the complete selection. Review full-board samples, multiple-board appearance, and written criteria.
3. Are all filled knots or repaired cracks acceptable?
Not automatically. Confirm which finished repair appearances are permitted through written agreement and approved examples.
4. Does CD grade automatically allow sapwood?
Do not assume the allowance from the grade letters. Ask the supplier to identify sapwood in the proposed selection and confirm the acceptance requirements.
5. Can an approved color sample guarantee identical batches?
No. Use the approved sample as a reference while acknowledging natural wood variation. Discuss and document the accepted appearance range.
Request CD Samples and Confirm the Order Grade
Send SONGLINFLOOR your company name, sales market, target color, quantity, and preferred specification. Include questions about knots, cracks, repairs, sapwood, and color variation.
Request CD samples and written grading criteria so the board appearance can be reviewed before order confirmation.
